Optical logic gate based optical router Number:7,145,704 from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) owispatent A switching element capable of being used in an optical processing device includes an optical signal separator operable to separate a multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths. The switching element further includes a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths. The switching element also includes a controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers.<H optical, Optical, Optical, logic, g, 7145704.html, Patent, pto, 7145704

Title: Optical logic gate based optical router

Abstract: A switching element capable of being used in an optical processing device includes an optical signal separator operable to separate a multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths. The switching element further includes a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths. The switching element also includes a controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers.

Patent Number: 7,145,704 Issued on 12/05/2006 to Islam

Inventors: Islam; Mohammed N. (Ann Arbor, MI)
Assignee: Cheetah Omni, LLC (Ann Arbor, MI)

Appl. No.: 11/225,684

Filed: September 12, 2005

Related U.S. Patent Documents


Application Number	Filing Date	Patent Number	Issue Date
10723107	Nov., 2003	6943925

Current U.S. Class: 359/108 ; 359/344; 398/45

Current International Class: G02F 3/00 (20060101); H01S 3/00 (20060101); H04J 14/00 (20060101); G02B 5/18 (20060101)

Field of Search: 359/108,290,291,344 385/46 398/48,61,63,45

References Cited [Referenced By]

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4011009	March 1977	Lama et al.
4900119	February 1990	Hill et al.
5103340	April 1992	Dono et al.
5212743	May 1993	Heismann
5291502	March 1994	Pezeshki et al.
5311360	May 1994	Bloom et al.
5343542	August 1994	Kash et al.
5459610	October 1995	Bloom et al.
5500761	March 1996	Goossen et al.
5654819	August 1997	Goossen et al.
5659418	August 1997	Yurke
5661592	August 1997	Bornstein et al.
5701193	December 1997	Vogel et al.
5745271	April 1998	Ford et al.
5751469	May 1998	Arney et al.
5774252	June 1998	Lin et al.
5825528	October 1998	Goossen
5835255	November 1998	Miles
5841579	November 1998	Bloom et al.
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6041071	March 2000	Tayebati
6123985	September 2000	Robinson et al.
6204946	March 2001	Aksyuk et al.
6271052	August 2001	Miller et al.
6301274	October 2001	Tayebati et al.
6341039	January 2002	Flanders et al.
6373632	April 2002	Flanders
6381387	April 2002	Wendland, Jr.
6407851	June 2002	Islam et al.
6439728	August 2002	Copeland
6943925	September 2005	Islam
2001/0055147	December 2001	Little et al.
2002/0105697	August 2002	Fabiny
2003/0035193	February 2003	Islam et al.
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Foreign Patent Documents


0 667 548	Aug., 1995	EP
0 689 078	Dec., 1995	EP
0 788 005	Aug., 1997	EP
99/34484	Jul., 1999	WO
WO 01/37021	Nov., 2000	WO
01/09995	Feb., 2001	WO
WO 01/79795	Mar., 2001	WO
WO 02/06860	Jul., 2001	WO
WO 02/10822	Jul., 2001	WO
01/67156	Sep., 2001	WO
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01/67158	Sep., 2001	WO
01/67171	Sep., 2001	WO
WO 02/21191	Sep., 2001	WO
01/75497	Oct., 2001	WO
WO 02/056521	Nov., 2001	WO
WO 02/50588	Dec., 2001	WO
WO 02/059655	Dec., 2001	WO

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Primary Examiner: Spector; David N.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Baker Botts L.L.P.

Parent Case Text

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/723,107 by Mohammed N. Islam, filed Nov. 25, 2003, entitled "Optical Logic Gate Based Optical Router," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,943,925. Application Ser. No. 10/723,107 is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/776,052 by Mohammed N. Islam, filed Feb. 2, 2001, entitled "Variable Blazed Grating Based Signal Processing," now U.S. Pat. No. 6,721,473. Application Ser. No. 09/776,052 is related to application Ser. No. 09/776,051, entitled "Variable Blazed Grating," filed on Feb. 2, 2001.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An optical processing system comprising: an input interface comprising at least a first wavelength division demultiplexer and one or more light sources coupled to the first wavelength division demultiplexer and capable of generating a multiple wavelength optical signal; a switching element coupled to the input interface, wherein the switching element comprises: an optical signal separator operable to separate the multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths; a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate, the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths; and a controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers; and a node coupled to at least a portion of the switching element, wherein the node comprises a second wavelength division demultiplexer and a receiver coupled to the second wavelength division demultiplexer that is capable of detecting at least a portion of the one or more optical signal wavelengths.

2. The optical processing system of claim 1, wherein the switching element further comprises a star configuration for distributing the multiple wavelength optical signal.

3. The optical processing system of claim 2, further comprising an optical amplifier coupled to the star configuration and capable of at least partially compensating for any losses associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal.

4. An optical processing system comprising: an input interface comprising at least a first wavelength division demultiplexer and one or more light sources coupled to the first wavelength division demultiplexer and capable of generating a multiple wavelength optical signal; a switching element coupled to the input interface, wherein the switching element comprises: an optical signal separator operable to separate the multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths; a plurality of semiconductor devices located on a single semiconductor substrate, the plurality of semiconductor devices capable of performing an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths; and a controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor devices; and a node coupled to at least a portion of the switching element, wherein the node comprises a second wavelength division demultiplexer and a receiver coupled to the second wavelength division demultiplexer that is capable of detecting at least a portion of the one or more optical signal wavelengths.

5. The optical processing system of claim 4, wherein the semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor optical amplifier operating in gain.

6. The optical processing system of claim 4, wherein the semiconductor device operates in absorption.

7. The optical processing system of claim 4, wherein the switching element further comprises a star configuration for distributing the multiple wavelength optical signal.

8. The optical processing system of claim 7, further comprising an optical amplifier coupled to the star configuration and capable of at least partially compensating for any losses associated with the multiple wavelength optical signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to the field of electro-optical systems and more particularly to a system and method capable of using an optical router having one or more all-optical logic gates.

OVERVIEW

The ability to transmit information in the optical domain has greatly enhanced the speed and bandwidth of data communications. Optical communication networks that transmit information in the optical domain typically require optical-to-electrical and electrical-to-optical conversions as the optical signals are routed through the network. Converting information between the optical and electrical domains can, in most cases, reduce and/or limit the transmission speed and bandwidth of the optical communication network. In addition, the inability of conventional systems to route the information in the optical domain has restricted the ability of network designers to accomplish data communications solely in the optical domain.

SUMMARY OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In one embodiment, a blazed grating based electro-optic switching system comprises a fiber optic tap. The fiber optic tap operable to receive an optical signal having header information and payload information and to form a first signal copy comprising at least the header information and a second signal copy comprising at least the payload information. The system also comprises an electronic processor operable to receive the first signal copy and to perform electronic processing on the header information. The system further comprises an array of blazed grating based optical switch elements operable to receive the first and second signal copies and to perform an optical switching operation on the first and second signal copies.

In another embodiment, a logic gate capable of being used in an optical processing device comprises at least a first optical amplifier and a second optical amplifier located approximately symmetrically in a Mach Zehnder Interferometer (MZI). The first optical amplifier operable to receive a first data signal and the second optical amplifier operable to receive a second data signal. In one particular embodiment, the first data signal and the second data signal are received substantially simultaneously. The logic gate further comprises a light source coupled to the Mach Zehnder Interferometer and operable to generate a clock signal, wherein the clock signal traverses the first optical amplifier in a direction that is counter to a direction that the first data signal traverses the first optical amplifier.

In yet another embodiment, a switching element capable of being used in an optical processing device comprises an optical signal separator operable to separate a multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths. The switching element also comprises a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the optical signal wavelengths. The switching element further comprises controller operable to generate a control signal that affects the optical switching operation performed by one or more of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers.

In still another embodiment, an logic gate capable of being used in an optical router comprises a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located in an interferometer. At least some of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operable to receive at least one data signal. In one particular embodiment, at least one of the plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers operates at transparency. The logic gate also comprises a light source coupled to the plurality of optical amplifiers and operable to generate a clock signal.

In another embodiments, an optical switching system comprises a fiber optic tap operable to receive an optical signal having at least one packet label and packet data. The tap also operable to separate the optical signal into a first signal copy and a second signal copy comprising at least packet label. The switching system also comprises a first all-optical processing device operable to receive the second signal copy and to perform optical processing on the at least one packet label. The switching system further comprises a second all-optical processing device operable to receive the first signal copy and the processed second signal copy, and to perform an optical switching operation on the first signal copy. In one particular embodiment, at least one of the first and second all-optical processing devices comprises a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located approximately symmetrically in an interferometer.

In yet another embodiment, a regenerative device capable of regenerating one or more optical signals comprises an optical signal separator operable to separate a multiple wavelength optical signal into one or more optical signal wavelengths. The device further comprises a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers located on a single semiconductor substrate. The plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers collectively operable to perform an optical switching operation on at least one of the plurality of optical signal wavelengths. The device also comprises a light source coupled to the plurality of optical amplifiers and operable to generate at least a modulated clock signal.

Depending on the specific features implemented, particular embodiments of the present invention may exhibit some, none, or all of the following technical advantages. For example, various embodiments may be capable of minimizing and/or avoiding contention within the communication network and/or the optical data router. Some embodiments may be amenable to semiconductor chip level integration. Other embodiments may be capable of maintaining one or more packet data associated with an optical signal in the optical domain.

Other technical advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, description and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated, various embodiments may include all, some or none of the enumerated advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and for further features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1a 1c are block diagrams illustrating greatly enlarged cross-section views of various exemplary embodiments of blazed grating-based apparatus operable to facilitate high speed optical signal processing;

FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate planar views of one particular embodiment of an apparatus operable to facilitate high speed optical signal processing;

FIGS. 3a c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing one example of a blazed grating device;

FIGS. 4a c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing another example of a blazed grating device;

FIGS. 5a c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing still another example of a blazed grating device;

FIGS. 6a c are cross-sectional and planar diagrams showing yet another example of a blazed grating device;

FIGS. 7a and 7b illustrate blazed grating based variable optical attenuators;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a combination of a variable blazed grating and an optical circulator;

FIGS. 9a 9b are block diagrams illustrating examples of blazed grating based 1.times.2 optical switches;

FIGS. 10a 10b are block diagrams illustrating various modes of operation of a blazed grating based 2.times.2 optical switch;

FIGS. 11a 11h are block diagrams illustrating examples of various embodiments of blazed grating based optical add/drop multiplexers;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing one example of a novel system for facilitating multiple-wavelength signal processing;

FIGS. 13a 13b are block diagrams illustrating examples of various embodiments of a blazed grating based optical gain equalizer;

FIGS. 14a and 14b are block diagrams illustrating example embodiments of blazed grating based wavelength division optical add/drop multiplexer;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of an exemplary blazed grating based electro-optic router;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating one example of a method of optical signal processing using a blazed grating based apparatus;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an optical data router;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an input interface;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a self-sync module;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an all-optical label swapping module;

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a replication module implementing a multi-mode interference coupler;

FIGS. 22A through 22D are block diagrams of example embodiments of all-optical logic gates for bit level processing;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of one example of an optical switching element;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an electro-optic core router node;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an all-optical core router node;

FIG. 26 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an all-optical header processing device;

FIG. 27 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a packet switch;

FIG. 28 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a management node;

FIG. 29 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an all-optical error check device;

FIG. 30 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an output interface; and

FIG. 31 is a block diagram of one embodiment of an optical communication network capable of implementing one or more core optical data routers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Generally, a variable blazed grating device is an element having a diffraction grating that can be selectively displaced relative to an incoming optical signal, with the result that the majority of the diffracted portions of the optical signal are communicated in one direction. One aspect of one embodiment of the present invention relates to a novel configuration of a variable blazed grating device.

FIG. 1a shows a cross-section view of one exemplary embodiment of a variable blazed grating-based apparatus 100 operable to facilitate high speed optical signal processing. Throughout this document, the term "signal processing" includes attenuation, switching, phase shifting, or any other manipulation of one or more optical signals.

In this example, apparatus 100 includes a substrate 12 and a plurality of strips 14 disposed outwardly from substrate 12. In a particular embodiment, substrate 12 comprises a semiconductor substrate formed, for example, from silicon. Other materials could be used for substrate 12 without departing from the scope of the invention.

Each strip 14 has a width (W.sub.s), and is separated from adjacent strips by a distance (d). The width (W.sub.s) and the distance (d) define a periodicity associated with the strips. Multiple strips 14 are operable to receive a single input optical signal 20 having a beam width (W.sub.b). Strips 14 are sized and spaced from one another in a manner to ensure that the width (W.sub.b) of received optical beam 20 covers at least two strips 14. In this example, strips 14 residing at position 14' are spaced from substrate 12 by a distance 16. Although strips 14 are shown as generally rectangular in shape, any shape can be used consistent with the invention. In addition, although strips 14 are shown as having a constant width (W.sub.s), that measurement could vary between strips, or even along the same strip 14.

As one particular non-limiting example of particular dimensions, the width of optical beam 20 may comprise approximately 21,000 nanometers, while each strip 14 comprises a width of approximately 3,000 nanometers (3 microns) and is spaced from adjacent strips 14 by approximately 600 nanometers. In this particular example, strips 14 are spaced from substrate 12 by approximately 2000 nanometers. These dimensions are provided for illustrative purposes only. Other device dimensions and configurations could be used without departing from the scope of the invention.

At least outer surface 15 of each strip 14 comprises an at least partially reflective material. It is not necessary for surface 15 to be completely or even mostly reflective. Of course, the more reflective the material or materials comprising outer surface 15, the less lossy the device will be. Reflective surface 15 may comprise the outer surface of strips 14 where strips 14 are formed from a reflective material. For example, strips 14 may be formed from a metal, such as aluminum, chromium, or gold. As a further example, strips 14 could be formed from polysilicon formed at a thickness sufficient to render the strips at least partially reflective of at least the wavelengths being processed by apparatus 100. Other materials could be used to form strips 14 without departing from the scope of the invention.

In another embodiment, reflective surface 15 may comprise a layer of reflective material disposed outwardly from another layer of strip 14. For example, strips 14 could be formed from a material, such as, silicon nitride, and a layer of partially reflective material 15 could be formed outwardly from strip 14. In that embodiment, the layer of material supporting layer 15 may, but need not be reflective of the incident signals.

FIG. 1b illustrates one example of operation of apparatus 100. In this example, strips 14 receive optical input beam 20 at an angle normal to the surface of strips 14 at position 14.' Strips 14 at position 14' (shown in dotted lines) show apparatus 100 operating in "reflection mode," where strips 14 operate to reflect input optical beam 20 as reflected signal 24. In this case, because input beam 20 is oriented normally to the surfaces of strips 14, reflected beam 24 is communicated back in the same direction from which input beam 20 originated. As will be discussed below, non-normal input angles could also be used.

Strips at positions 14'' (shown in solid lines) depict strips 14 during a second mode of operation, "diffraction mode." In diffraction mode, strips 14 are each rotated by approximately a blaze angle THETA from the original position of strips 14. In a particular embodiment, strips 14 can obtain a maximum blaze angle that is greater than two degrees. Implementing a design that facilitates a wide range of strip rotation provides significant advantages over other approaches by, for example, providing flexibility in system configuration. Input optical beam 20 impinges on surfaces 15 of strips 14. In this example, a first portion of input optical beam 20 impinges on strip 14a, while a second portion of beam 20 impinges on strip 14b, which is adjacent to strip 14a. While beam 20 may experience some scattering, because of the rotation of strips 14 to position 14'', the majority of the diffracted portions of input beam 20 are directed in one direction, as illustrated (at least in part) by output rays 30 and 32.

Output ray 30 represents the portion of input beam 20 reflected by strip 14a at position 14'' and output beam 32 represents the portion of input beam 20 that is reflected by strip 14b at position 14''. Although FIG. 1b shows just two output rays 30 and 32, it should be appreciated that any strips 14' that receive a portion of input beam 20 will reflect an output portion in the direction indicated by arrows 30 and 32.

Because output rays 30 and 32 result from diffractions from surfaces laterally offset from one another and positioned at an angle to input beam 20, output rays 30 and 32 experience a relative difference (d.sub.path) in their path lengths. This path length difference (d.sub.path) results in a phase difference between the output rays. For a given wavelength and strip periodicity, apparatus 100 can introduce any level of phase difference between output rays by varying the angle THETA by which the strips 14 are rotated. When using a normal incident input beam 20, the diffracted output signal comprising a combination of diffracted rays, such as 30 and 32, is at a maximum when the path difference d.sub.path corresponds to one wavelength (or an integral multiple of wavelengths) of beam 20. Other path differences d.sub.path result in an attenuation of the output signal compared to the maximum condition.

FIG. 1c illustrates another example of operation of apparatus 100. In this example, strips 14 receive optical input beam 20 at a non-normal angle PHI. In this particular example, the angle of incidence PHI of input beam 20 is equal to the angle of diffraction of output rays 30 and 32. As a resul